TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION A. 935 
on the mode in which the sun acts upon our magnets. The sun being a perma- 
nently charged conductor separated from the earth also a conductor, by an insu- 
lating vacuum, would affect the distribution of the earth’s electricity by its power 
of statical induction. As the earth rotates, currents would be set up about it to 
effect the redistribution of electricity required to satisfy the inducing influence of 
the sun. May we not find in these earth currents an explanation of some of the 
phenomena of the earth’s magnetism? However this may be, the changes in the 
sun’s statical induction which follow from the shooting forth of the electrified 
matter of the corona may well so affect the earth’s currents as to bring about the 
disturbances observed in the needle in connection with solar phenomena. 
11. If further evidence should be forthcoming in support of the observation of 
M. Trouvelot in 1878, and of the results of General Tennant’s calculations as to- 
influence of Mercury and Venus on the corona, there would be some probability that 
Venus and Mercury were permanently charged with electricity of the other name 
to that of the sun. If this should be found to hold good of the other planets, we 
should have the planets charged with one kind of electricity, and the sun charged 
with the opposite electricity. As we have reason to believe that the sun and 
planets formed originally one cosmical mass, the question may be suggested 
whether these charges of electricity of opposite names can have been brought 
about in connection with the separation of the planetary bodies." 
2. On the Spectrum of the Stella Nova visible on the Great Nebula in 
Andromeda. By Wiu1am Hueeins, D.C.L., DL.D., PRS. 
This star has appeared very near the position of greatest condensation in the 
great nebulain Andromeda. On the evening of September 3 it presented the appear- 
ance of an orange-coloured star of from the seventh to the eighth magnitude. 
When viewed in a spectroscope of small dispersive power, a continuous spectrum was 
seen which could be traced from about C in the red to alittle beyond F. There 
appeared great brightness from about D to about 4, which suggested strongly the 
presence of bright lines in that part of the spectrum. When a more powerful 
spectroscope was employed, the suspicion of some bright lines in this region was 
strengthened, but this point could not be certainly determined. 
On September 9 the star was again observed. The colour of the star appeared 
less strongly orange. In the small spectroscope the great brightness about D was 
not so marked, but the suspicion of bright lines in the region from D to 6 was con- 
firmed; and the appearance of the spectrum in the large spectroscope left little 
doubt on my mind as to the existence of from three to five bright lines in this part 
of the spectrum. 
3. On the Bright Star in the Great Nebula in Andromeda. 
By Rauew Copenanp, Ph.D. 
The author very shortly reviewed the history of the great nebula from the 
time of Al Safi, towards the close of the tenth century, to the present moment, 
the object being to show that there is no evidence of any actual change in the 
nebula itself, Passing to the recent sudden display, the author quoted various 
observations, beginning with Mr. Tarrant’s on July 2, and ending with that of the 
Rey. 8. H. Saxby on August 9, showing that on the whole there were some pre- 
monitory symptoms of an outbreak in or near the nucleus of the nebula, The 
first positive evidence of the presence of an actual star is given by Mr. J. W. Ward, 
who saw a star-like nucleus of about the ninth magnitude at Belfast at 11 p.m. 
1 Since this paper was read my attention has been called to the following papers 
by Professor Osborne Reynolds: ‘On the Tails of Comets, the Solar Corona, and the 
Aurora, considered as Electric Phenomena,’ Mem. LZ. and P. Soc., Manchester, 3rd 
series, vol. v. p. 44; ‘On Cometary Phenomena,’ ibid. p. 192; ‘On an Electrical 
Corona resembling the Solar Corona,’ ibid. p. 202; On the Electrodynamic Effect 
which the Induction of Static Electricity causes in a Moving Body. This Induc- 
tion on the part of the Sun, a probable cause of Terrestrial Magnetism, ibid. p. 209. 
